Canadian oil already “spilling” into the U.S.

Environmentalists mistakenly think that blocking the Keystone pipeline will prevent crude oil, derived from Canada’s oil sands, from being extracted and from being conveyed into the U.S. to be refined into gasoline, asphalt, and other products that are important to the transportation and manufacturing sectors. Their ultimate goal is to stop all development of the Canadian resource.

The Canadian oil spilled as a result of a recent train derailment in Minnesota highlights their misguided efforts.

News Flash: Canada is developing its abundant oil sands and the crude oil is already being shipped to the United States—albeit in a more costly and less safe mode.

Early morning on March 27th, 14 cars of a 94-car mixed-freight train derailed near Parker Prairie, MN. The Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) train was carrying oil from Western Canada to Chicago—though CPR does ship to refiners along the Gulf of Mexico, the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. Of the 14 cars, one ruptured and, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, spilled as much as 26,000 gallons of crude oil (a car can contain 550 barrels of oil and trains often carry 80-150 cars). Two other cars had some leakage — though due to the frozen ground, “there’s no threat to ground or surface water” and there were no injuries.

The CPR train carrying Canadian oil to the U.S. is part of a growing trend, as producers and refiners have turned to railroads to make up for a lack of pipeline capacity. It is estimated that, as Canadian production rises, “rail shipments of western Canadian crude had leapt about 150% to roughly 150,000 barrels a day in the last eight months.” The Wall Street Journal recently stated: “Pipeline or not, lots of Canadian crude oil is headed to the U.S.” It reported that, this year, more than 200,000 barrels a day will be shipped to the Gulf Coast refining hub, and called the increased use of railroads “an end run around the much-delayed pipeline”—which would more than quadruple capacity to 830,000 barrels a day.

The use of rail for Canada’s “stranded” crude oil is not new. Calling it a “pipeline on rails,” in February 2011, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported: “Although pipelines continue to carry the overwhelming majority of Canada’s oil production, both Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. have begun using their rail networks to deliver crude.” Rail does offer several advantages for transporting Canadian crude. As the National Post, in 2009, pointed out: “Geopolitically, the rail option opens up the world markets for producers but also allows Canadian oil producers to bypass protectionism as well as the fickleness of environmental politics south of the border.” Oil crossing the international border via rail doesn’t require State Department approval.

Pro-pipeline pressure on the Obama administration is mounting. During the weekend’s Senate budget votes, 17 “moderate and conservative Democrats sided with Republicans on the Keystone pipeline.” Addressing the vote, the Wall Street Journal states: “The Senate vote is symbolic since the budget outline lacks the force of law. Still, the vote reflects the growing bipartisan consensus that a private investment creating tens of thousands of jobs trumps the scare tactics of environmentalists.”

Worry over “contamination from spills” is one of the “scare tactics” used by environmentalists to oppose the Keystone pipeline—yet pipelines are universally accepted as safer than transport by rail or truck (trucks bring the crude oil from the drilling site to the rail terminals).

Another “scare tactic” is to debunk the law of supply and demand; the ability of more resource to lower prices at the pump. On my own Facebook page, a “friend” posted the following: “My question, which neither you nor anyone else has answered is: If producing more oil here lowers prices as Marita says it will, why are we exporting it and why are prices so high?”

From Bloomberg Businessweek, here’s a short explanation. Edward Morse, head of commodities research at Citigroup Global Markets, predicts that due to increased supply “$90 will be the new ceiling for oil prices rather than the floor it’s been in recent years.” The North American supply, he says, will result in a steep drop in oil imports “from OPEC’s biggest West African members” and “those barrels will have to find another home. The surplus African oil could end up competing with Mideast suppliers for customers in India, China, Europe, and Korea. As the global competition heats up, oil prices the world over will probably drop.”

On April 18, the U.S. State Department will be holding a pipeline hearing, a “listening session,” in Grand Island, NE. News reports state: “The meeting will give the public a chance to weigh in on the environmental impact of the proposed project.” Four State Department reviews have given the pipeline environmental clearance and, most recently, acknowledged that Canada will continue to extract its rich resource as “the oil sands are absolutely essential to maintaining the future living standards of Canadians,” and “pipeline or not, lots of Canadian crude oil is headed to the U.S.”—though now coming via a “pipeline on rails.” As Wednesday’s little spill spotlights, those who really care about the environment support the Keystone pipeline.

[Those unable to attend the April 18 hearing, can submit comments by emailing: [email protected]]

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2 Comments

carol sue
March 29, 2013 at 12:33 PM

I surely hope that when they have their “meeting” and allow the folks to speak on why this is an excellent opportunity for us, that they don’t deny the truth, as they did with the banning of DDT back in 1972. Its time for the people to demand True Science and stop allowing propaganda run eviro mentalists … to run our country and world.

J.P. Katigbak
May 25, 2013 at 8:40 PM

I say that there is one thing people like me would challenge the satanic worldview brought about by the hidden ideological and philosophical doctrines of environmentalism and democracy. It is certain that nothing would negatively affect traditional cultures and customs, traditional institutions (including the institution of monarchy), environmental protection, economic growth and stability, political and social stability, national sovereignty, public safety, transportation and communications improvements, and many more.
Please understand why are the activist ideologues fooling around with various societies and economies around the world? I hope meaningful organisations including CFACT would like to share with my concerns over the pervasiveness of political correctness in the US and the rest of the world.
At the same time, I still oppose to Democratic republicanism which can lead to political instability, divisiveness, ideologically depressive politics, social ills, etc. I won’t make this up. I will not give up so easily. It is time to get started and fight for truth against ideological delusions by respecting tried-and-tested traditional values and customs, respecting traditional institutions (including the institution of monarchy), ensuring political, social and economic stability, environmental protection, national sovereignty, and many more as mentioned.
The intellectual order of battle is still underway. I still hope it does.
And I am sure that True Science will challenge environmentalism on every aspect during public discussions. Thanks very much. – J.P.K.